United Kingdom
United Kingdom
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Country reports and publications 
United Kingdom
Overview of the education system (EAG 2025)
| Education at a Glance 2025 | Country note | Annexes from Education at a Glance 2025 | OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics 2018 | OECD Education Policy Outlook: United Kingdom | Department for Education | UK National Statistics |
Select first some countries to compare, choose the charts you wish to display and customise them.
The following list displays indicators for which your selected country shows the highest and lowest values among countries.
The list can be sorted by level of education or by age group. All rankings are calculated including available data from OECD
and partner countries.
Find out more about the methodology here.
Show indicators for which your country ranks among the top or bottom:
Sort by:
Attainment
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (53.8 %, rank 5/40 , 2024) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (60.3 %, rank 5/40 , 2024) Download Indicator
The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (41.9 %, rank 3/40 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (1.3 %, rank 3/28 , 2024) Download Indicator
Attainment by gender
The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (51.5 %, rank 5/40 , 2024) Download Indicator
The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (57 %, rank 5/40 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the largest among countries with available data. (26.8 %, rank 5/37 , 2024) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old men who attained upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in United Kingdom is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (29.4 %, rank 35/38 , 2024) Download Indicator
United Kingdom has one of the largest share of women among 25-34 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education. (49.1 %, rank 3/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
The share of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in United Kingdom is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (50.9 %, rank 33/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
Entrance by field of education and gender
The share of female new entrants to bachelor’s programmes in business, administration and law was among the smallest in United Kingdom compared to other countries. (47.7 %, rank 35/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
Female new entrants in services bachelor’s programmes were among the smallest across countries with available data. (26.2 %, rank 37/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of business, administration and law is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (50.2 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
The share of male students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes in information and communication technologies in United Kingdom is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (69 %, rank 26/30 , 2023) Download Indicator
Participation in education
The percentage of three-year-olds in early childhood education in United Kingdom is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/42 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of students in government-dependent private tertiary educational institutions is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/24 , 2023) Download Indicator
The enrolment rate of 6–14-year-olds in upper secondary programmes in United Kingdom was among the highest internationally. (10.3 %, rank 5/47 , 2023) Download Indicator
United Kingdom has one of the largest shares of lower secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes. (13.2 %, rank 4/22 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of upper secondary students enrolled in programmes giving partial completion or insufficient for completion is relatively high compared to the other countries. (36.8 %, rank 3/17 , 2023) Download Indicator
The average age of short-cycle tertiary students enrolled in vocational programmes is comparativele high. (3 %, rank 3/36 , 2022) Download Indicator
The percentage of four-year-olds in primary education in United Kingdom is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.4 %, rank 3/46 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of five-year-olds in ECEC in United Kingdom is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 42/42 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of five-year-olds in primary education in United Kingdom is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/47 , 2023) Download Indicator
Graduation
The average age of graduates from general programmes at the upper secondary level in United Kingdom is comparatively low. (15.6 Years, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of first-time graduates in vocational programmes at upper secondary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (65 %, rank 5/36 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of first-time graduates in general programmes at upper secondary level is comparatively low. (35 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
The average age of bachelor's or equivalent graduates in United Kingdom is among the youngest. (23 Years, rank 30/31 , 2023) Download Indicator
The average age of master's or equivalent graduates in United Kingdom is among the oldest. (33.4 Years, rank 1/22 , 2023) Download Indicator
Graduation by gender
In United Kingdom, the share of female first-time master's graduates is relatively smallest, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (50.9 %, rank 22/23 , 2023) Download Indicator
Graduation by field of education
The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8 %, rank 5/44 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of services is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.2 %, rank 41/43 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of upper secondary vocational graduates in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8.8 %, rank 33/34 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary is relatively low. (0.7 %, rank 41/44 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of arts and humanities is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2 %, rank 3/36 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of business, administration and law is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3 %, rank 5/44 , 2022) Download Indicator
Graduation by field of education and gender
In United Kingdom, the proportion of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries. (6.8 %, rank 37/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (74.1 %, rank 3/43 , 2023) Download Indicator
Completion rates
The completion rate of female new entrants to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration of the programme was among the highest across countries with available data. (69 %, rank 4/33 , 2020) Download Indicator
For male new entrants, the completion rate to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration of the programme placed United Kingdom among countries with the highest values. (64.9 %, rank 1/33 , 2020) Download Indicator
Completion rates of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes by the theoretical duration ranked United Kingdom among the countries with the highest levels. (67.2 %, rank 2/33 , 2020) Download Indicator
Female completion rates to bachelor's programmes, measured by the end of the theoretical duration plus one year, were among the highest across participating countries. (82.7 %, rank 2/32 , 2021) Download Indicator
Male completion rates to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration plus one year were among the highest in United Kingdom compared to other countries. (77.5 %, rank 1/32 , 2021) Download Indicator
By the end of the theoretical duration plus one year, completion rates of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes placed United Kingdom among the highest across countries with available data. (80.4 %, rank 1/32 , 2021) Download Indicator
Female completion rates to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical duration, were among the highest across countries with available data. (85.8 %, rank 2/31 , 2023) Download Indicator
Male completion rates to bachelor's programmes three years after the theoretical duration placed United Kingdom among the highest values internationally. (80.6 %, rank 1/31 , 2023) Download Indicator
The completion rate of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical end of the programme, ranked United Kingdom among the highest across countries. (83.5 %, rank 2/31 , 2023) Download Indicator
Dropout rates
Male drop out rates to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical duration, were among the lowest internationally. (19.1 %, rank 27/30 , 2023) Download Indicator
Fields of education
In United Kingdom, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is relatively low. (8.5 %, rank 37/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is relatively small. (7 %, rank 30/34 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of services is comparatively small. (0.3 %, rank 36/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
The proportion of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.6 %, rank 36/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary is relatively low, compared to other countries with available data. (0.6 %, rank 34/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of new entrants in education bachelor's programmes is comparatively smallest, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.6 %, rank 38/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of new entrants in engineering, manufacturing and construction bachelor's programmes is relatively low in United Kingdom among countries with available data. (8.5 %, rank 35/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of new entrants in services bachelor's programmes is especially low, compared to the other countries with other data. (0 %, rank 37/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of new entrants in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary master's programmes is especially low. (0.4 %, rank 37/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the percentage of new entrants in Services master's programmes is comparatively low among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 36/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
Student mobility
United Kingdom has one of the largest proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in tertiary education among OECD and partner countries with available data. (23.4 %, rank 3/45 , 2023) Download Indicator
The share of worldwide foreign and international students is one of the large among OECD and partner countries with available data. (13.4 %, rank 3/46 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of international graduates among bachelor's first-time graduates is relatively high. (18.6 %, rank 4/31 , 2023) Download Indicator
The proportion of international students among the new entrants in master's programmes in United Kingdom is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (60.5 %, rank 3/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in master's programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (50.5 %, rank 3/44 , 2023) Download Indicator
(2 %, rank 3/46 , 2020) Download Indicator
Student mobility by field of education
The percentage of students enrolled in the field of business, administration and law among all international or foreign tertiary students in United Kingdom is relatively high. (39 %, rank 1/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of international and foreign students among all students in the field of services is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 38/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of students enrolled in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary among all international or foreign tertiary students is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (0.5 %, rank 35/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
Expenditure per student
Annual expenditure per tertiary student is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (35350 USD Equivalent, rank 2/42 , 2022) Download Indicator
Annual expenditure per pupil at the pre-primary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7194 USD Equivalent, rank 27/30 , 2021) Download Indicator
Annual expenditure per tertiary student is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (28762 USD Equivalent, rank 2/35 , 2022) Download Indicator
Expenditure per student for core educational services on tertiary education in United Kingdom is comparatively high. (27022 USD Equivalent, rank 2/28 , 2022) Download Indicator
Expenditure per student for core educational services on primary to tertiary education in United Kingdom is comparatively high. (16336 USD Equivalent, rank 5/28 , 2022) Download Indicator
Expenditure per student for ancillary services on tertiary education in United Kingdom is comparatively high. (1739 USD Equivalent, rank 3/28 , 2022) Download Indicator
Annual expenditure per full-time equivalent student in primary to tertiary education is one the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (17658 USD Equivalent, rank 5/40 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the total annual expenditure per full-time equivalent student on tertiary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (32728 USD Equivalent, rank 2/42 , 2022) Download Indicator
The total annual expenditure per full-time equivalent student on upper secondary general education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (17638 USD Equivalent, rank 5/30 , 2022) Download Indicator
Expenditure in education and national wealth
In United Kingdom, expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies. (6.1 %, rank 3/40 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, expenditure on tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively high. (2.1 %, rank 2/42 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, private expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively high. (0.6 %, rank 2/39 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, international expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively high. (0 %, rank 4/32 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, public expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively low. (0.5 %, rank 40/44 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, private expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary to tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively high. (2.2 %, rank 1/39 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the private expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds on primary to post-secondary non-tertiary level is high. (0.5 %, rank 3/30 , 2022) Download Indicator
The proportion of private expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds for primary to tertiary education is comparatively high in United Kingdom. (1.6 %, rank 2/28 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, international expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds on tertiary education is relatively large. (0.1 %, rank 5/35 , 2022) Download Indicator
Government and private expenditure in education
The share of private expenditure on all levels below tertiary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (15.2 %, rank 5/39 , 2022) Download Indicator
The share of private expenditure on tertiary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (74.5 %, rank 1/40 , 2022) Download Indicator
United Kingdom has one of the largest shares of private expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (35.4 %, rank 2/39 , 2022) Download Indicator
The share of public expenditure on educational institutions, for tertiary education is comparatively small in United Kingdom. (22.3 %, rank 42/42 , 2022) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of public expenditure on educational institutions, for primary to tertiary education is comparatively small. (63.5 %, rank 39/40 , 2022) Download Indicator
Nature of expenditure
In United Kingdom, the share of capital expenditure on primary education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4 %, rank 32/36 , 2022) Download Indicator
Who the teachers are
The share of teachers younger than 30 in secondary schools is among the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (18.5 %, rank 1/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers younger than 30 is especially high. (20.8 %, rank 1/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of primary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (16.5 %, rank 37/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of lower secondary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (19.5 %, rank 35/36 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (21.6 %, rank 36/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of tertiary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is relatively high, compared to other countries with data available. (57.1 %, rank 5/34 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of teachers under 30 in early childhood educational development is especially high in United Kingdom. (22.2 %, rank 4/19 , 2023) Download Indicator
In upper secondary education, the percentage of teachers aged 50 or more is particularly low in United Kingdom. (19.4 %, rank 32/33 , 2023) Download Indicator
The percentage of teachers under 30 in United Kingdom is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21.6 %, rank 1/33 , 2023) Download Indicator
Ratio of student to teaching staff
The number of pupils per teacher in pre-primary schools is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (32.5 Ratio, rank 1/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
The number of students per teacher in primary schools is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner countries with available data. (19.5 Ratio, rank 4/43 , 2023) Download Indicator
The ratio of students to teaching staff at the lower secondary level is especially high. (17 Ratio, rank 5/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the ratio of children to contact staff in pre-primary education is one of the lowest compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.4 Ratio, rank 22/23 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the number of students per teacher in general upper secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.5 Ratio, rank 5/34 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the number of students per teacher in public lower secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.7 Ratio, rank 4/38 , 2023) Download Indicator
The ratio of students to teaching staff at the lower secondary level in private institutions is especially high in United Kingdom. (17.1 Ratio, rank 3/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the number of students per teacher in all public secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.7 Ratio, rank 3/39 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the ratio of children to teaching staff in early childhood educational development is one of the highest compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (30.1 Ratio, rank 1/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom the ratio of children to contact staff in early childhood educational development is one of the lowest compared to the other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.7 Ratio, rank 12/14 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of teachers' aides among contact staff in early childhood educational development is one of the highest of OECD and partner countries with available data. (91.1 Ratio, rank 1/12 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of teachers' aides among contact staff in pre-primary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (86.4 Ratio, rank 1/18 , 2023) Download Indicator
Organisation of the education system
Classes are particularly large in primary schools. (26 Students, rank 4/35 , 2023) Download Indicator
Classes in public primary institutions are comparatively large in United Kingdom. (27 Students, rank 3/37 , 2023) Download Indicator
Classes in in private primary institutions are comparatively large in United Kingdom. (25 Students, rank 5/35 , 2023) Download Indicator
In independent private institutions at primary education level, the average class size is relatively smallest in United Kingdom among OECD and other partner countries with available data. (13 Students, rank 18/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
In independent private institutions at lower secondary level, classes are one of the smallest in United Kingdom among OECD and partner countries with available data. (12 Students, rank 20/20 , 2023) Download Indicator
Employment and educational attainment
The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (90.4 %, rank 26/29 , 2024) Download Indicator
The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (82.7 %, rank 1/36 , 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in United Kingdom. (96.2 %, rank 3/21 , 2024) Download Indicator
Employment by gender and educational attainment
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in United Kingdom compared to other countries with available data. (77.6 %, rank 5/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in United Kingdom. (87.1 %, rank 5/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
Unemployment and educational attainment
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is comparatively low. (2.6 %, rank 33/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (2.2 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (2.8 %, rank 32/36 , 2024) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is one of the lowest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (3.4 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-old with a short cycle tertiary education degree is relatively low in United Kingdom. (3.4 %, rank 17/21 , 2024) Download Indicator
Unemployment by gender and educational attainment
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively low in United Kingdom. (2.9 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator
The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively low in United Kingdom. (2.2 %, rank 31/32 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of unemployed 25-64 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.8 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of unemployed 25-64 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.8 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of unemployed 25-64 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2 %, rank 29/32 , 2024) Download Indicator
Inactivity and educational attainment
In United Kingdom, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (13.7 %, rank 32/35 , 2024) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (8.6 %, rank 2/23 , 2024) Download Indicator
Inactivity by gender and educational attainment
In United Kingdom, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (18.9 %, rank 30/34 , 2024) Download Indicator
Earnings and educational attainment
Earnings of foreign-born aged between 25 and 64 who work full- and part-time with a short cycle tertiary education are comparatively low. (110.4 %, rank 20/24 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds full- and part-time with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in United Kingdom. (68.8 %, rank 26/30 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds with below secondary education compared to those of adults with an upper secondary education are relatively low in United Kingdom. (72.6 %, rank 29/32 , 2021) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of worker earning more than twice the median among those with a master's or doctoral or equivalent education degree is comparatively low. (17.9 %, rank 21/24 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the share of worker earning more than twice the median among those with a short-cycle tertiary education degree is comparatively low. (5 %, rank 20/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
The share of 25-64 year-old workers without an upper secondary education earning at or below half the overall median in United Kingdom is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (18 Index, rank 26/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-34 year-olds working full-time and full-year with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (185 Index, rank 1/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds working full-time and full-year with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (154 Index, rank 2/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 45-54 year-olds working full-time and full-year with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (150 Index, rank 3/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-34 year-olds working full-time and full-year with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (168 Index, rank 1/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-34 year-olds working full-time and full-year with tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (239 Index, rank 4/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-34 year-olds working full-time and full-year with bachelor's or equivalent attainment compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high in United Kingdom. (227 Index, rank 2/23 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the relative earnings for 45-54 year-old workers with tertiary attainment are low compared to workers with upper secondary attainment (143 Index, rank 25/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
In United Kingdom, the distribution of worker earning more than 1.5 times the median but at or below twice the median among those with with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low. (6 Index, rank 27/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings, gender and educational attainment
The earnings of men without an upper secondary education are relatively low compared to those of men with an upper secondary education. (71 Index, rank 26/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary education or post-secondary non-tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (74.6 %, rank 25/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (54.7 %, rank 29/30 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (58.7 %, rank 30/30 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary education or post-secondary non-tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the low among countries with available data. (70.4 %, rank 28/29 , 2023) Download Indicator
The earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (65.1 %, rank 22/24 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (69.1 %, rank 24/27 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (66.9 %, rank 19/20 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (74.1 %, rank 18/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-64 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (68.2 %, rank 21/21 , 2023) Download Indicator
Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (74.5 %, rank 16/20 , 2023) Download Indicator
Neither in education nor employed
The share of men without an upper secondary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in United Kingdom is relatively high (41.5 %, rank 3/32 , 2024) Download Indicator
The share of men who are inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in United Kingdom is relatively high. (9.1 %, rank 5/37 , 2024) Download Indicator
The data table will display up to six selected countries.
General findings
- Tertiary attainment among young adults has reached 48% on average across the OECD, the highest level ever, but progress has slowed since 2021. Attainment remains unequal, with women generally outpacing men, and older generations showing lower rates.
- Employment outcomes for tertiary-educated adults remain strong overall: 87% of them are employed compared to 60% of those without upper seconday. Tertiary education offers good protection against unemployment, but women and disadvantaged groups still face labour market gaps, and inactivity persists among some adults. Moreover, adults with tertiary education earn on average 54% more than those with only upper secondary education.
- Gender pay gaps remain significant. Despite higher attainment, women with tertiary education consistently earn less than men, even when working full-time, and this gap persists across age groups (73% on average for women aged 25 to 64).
- Fields of study strongly influence labour market outcomes. Graduates in engineering and in health and welfare fare particularly well, while women’s participation in STEM remains below parity (14% of graduates at tertiary level) despite being 58% of all tertiary graduates.
- Internationalisation continues to expand in tertiary education. The share of international students has grown steadily, and OECD countries host a large proportion of the world’s mobile students, reinforcing their global role in higher education.
- Sustaining tertiary education requires adequate investment. Spending per student is already at 21 021 USD and rising, and tertiary expenditure represents a notable share of GDP (1.4% on average in OECD), making efficiency and equity crucial for long-term sustainability.
| Education policies: Attainment | Education policies: Access and Participation | Education policies: Finance and Funding | Education policies: Labour market outcomes |
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- Although many countries have near universal upper secondary attainment among 25–34 year-olds, on average across the OECD 13% of younger adults still lack an upper secondary qualification.
- NEET shares are now below pre-pandemic levels in about half of OECD and partner countries with trend data; in 8 of these 16 countries the decline exceeds 1 percentage point, while 17 countries exceed pre-pandemic benchmarks and 6 saw increases of more than 2 percentage points.
- Employment rates rise steadily with higher tertiary attainment: short-cycle 83%, bachelor’s 86%, master’s 90%, and doctoral or equivalent 93% among 25–64 year-olds.
- Earnings premiums also increase with qualification level: on average across the OECD, short-cycle graduates earn 17% more than those with upper secondary; the advantage is 39% for bachelor’s and 83% for master’s/doctoral graduates.
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- Most children aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in early childhood education, with an average participation rate of 85% across the OECD. By contrast, only 29% of children under the age of 3 are enrolled.
- Participation in early childhood education has grown over the past decade, with enrolment for children under age 3 increasing by 9 percentage points to 29%, and enrolment for ages 3 and above rising by 5 points to 85%.
- The majority of students in vocational upper secondary education follow programmes that grant full access to tertiary education, with 76% of students enrolled in such programmes on average across the OECD.
- Completion rates for bachelor’s programmes increase after the theoretical duration of programmes: on average, 44% of students graduate on time, compared to 69% three years after.
- Students from Asia form the largest regional group of internationally mobile students in tertiary education, representing 58% of all foreign or international students across the OECD in 2023.
- Only 43% of students complete a bachelor’s degree within the expected duration, though this rises to 59% with one additional year and 70% with three additional years on average across the OECD.
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- Governments spend on average USD 12 438 per student in primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education, and USD 15 102 per student in tertiary education including R&D.
- Expenditure per student has risen in absolute terms since 2015, but its share in public budgets has declined, with government spending on education at almost 15% of total government expenditure on average in 2022.
- Annual spending per student at primary and secondary levels varies widely across OECD countries, from under USD 3 000 in some systems to over USD 25 000 in the most highly funded ones.
- Tertiary education continues to expand, placing pressure on public budgets. Private sources represent a larger share of total funding at the tertiary level than at any other level of education.
- Spending per student differs markedly between public and private institutions, with expenditure in public tertiary institutions exceeding USD 33 000 in some countries, compared to less than USD 10 000 in others.
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- Students in OECD countries receive an average of 7 604 hours of compulsory instruction during primary and lower secondary education, with total hours ranging widely across education systems.
- Compulsory instruction time averages 804 hours per year for primary students and 909 hours for lower secondary students, a difference of about 105 hours annually.
- The ratio of children to teachers in pre-primary education has fallen across most OECD countries, decreasing from an average of 15 children per teacher in 2013 to 13 in 2023.
- Teachers’ statutory salaries increase with the level of education taught. On average, teachers with 15 years of experience earn USD 55 725 at pre-primary level and USD 63 925 at upper secondary level.
- Teachers’ actual salaries are 83–91% of the earnings of similarly educated tertiary-educated workers, while school heads usually earn more than tertiary-educated workers on average across OECD countries.
- The ratio of students to academic staff is lower in public than in private institutions, averaging about 14 students per staff member in public tertiary institutions compared to 18 in private ones.
- Nearly half of OECD and partner countries operate non-selective admission systems for first degrees, providing broad access to tertiary education, while entrance exams and centralised systems are also common.
- The salaries of academic staff in tertiary education vary by seniority. On average, junior staff earn about 62 000 USD, while senior staff earn about 108 000 USD.
| Education policies: Teachers | Education policies: Teachers | OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) |
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Note: These values should be interpreted with care since they are influenced by countries' specific contexts and trade-offs. In education, there is often no simple
most- or least-efficient model. For instance, the share of private expenditure in education must be read against other measures designed to mitigate inequities,
such as loans and grants; longer learning time is an opportunity to convey more and better content to students, but may hinder investments in other important
areas. If you want further information on the nature of different variables, please take the time to read the analysis and contextual information, available at the website
for each publication.
All rankings for individual variables are compiled on the basis of OECD and G20 countries for which data are available. The OECD average includes only OECD countries which are listed here: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/members-partners.html
Reference years displayed in the Education GPS correspond to the most common year of reference among countries for which data is available on each variable. Data for the latest available year is preferred and some countries may have provided data refering to a more recent or late year. To know more about possible exceptions on data please click on the "Download Indicator" link on each variable. When a year of reference corresponds to a school year encompassing two years, the reference reads as follows: 2026 for school year 2025/2026.
*TALIS averages are based on all countries participating in the TALIS survey, including partner countries and economies. This explains the difference between the OECD average and the TALIS averages. Data from the TALIS survey and Education at a Glance (EAG) may differ. See Annex E of the TALIS technical report and Annex 3 of EAG 2024 for more details about the data collections.
For additional notes, please refer to annexes in the list of links below the introductory country profile text.
All rankings for individual variables are compiled on the basis of OECD and G20 countries for which data are available. The OECD average includes only OECD countries which are listed here: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/members-partners.html
Reference years displayed in the Education GPS correspond to the most common year of reference among countries for which data is available on each variable. Data for the latest available year is preferred and some countries may have provided data refering to a more recent or late year. To know more about possible exceptions on data please click on the "Download Indicator" link on each variable. When a year of reference corresponds to a school year encompassing two years, the reference reads as follows: 2026 for school year 2025/2026.
*TALIS averages are based on all countries participating in the TALIS survey, including partner countries and economies. This explains the difference between the OECD average and the TALIS averages. Data from the TALIS survey and Education at a Glance (EAG) may differ. See Annex E of the TALIS technical report and Annex 3 of EAG 2024 for more details about the data collections.
For additional notes, please refer to annexes in the list of links below the introductory country profile text.